Mapping outdoor public elevators

Suggested mapping procedure: Add a node at the location of the elevator and add highway=elevator (c.f. highway=steps, which is also a physical description rather than a legal right-of-way type). For larger elevators, such as freight lifts, draw an enclosed way around the outline of the lift. For non-vertical incline elevators, draw a straight way along the elevator's path.

Mapping indoor elevators

Elevators located within buildings could also be tagged as a property as building=* with elevator=yes if the specific location of the elevator(s) is unknown. If the specific location is known, adding the elevator, or multiple elevators, as separate nodes using the highway=elevator tag, would be the preferred approach (preferred level of detail to work towards). The number of floors should be specified on the features' building=* tag using building:levels=*.

Absence of an elevator

If there is no elevator, this could have negative consequences concerning the accessibility of a building for wheelchair users (if the building has more than one level).
An absence of an elevator could be indicated by tagging elevator=no on the building=* tag or location node.

Lifts/elevator transport from one level to the next

Access

Mostly pedestrians and definitely wheelchairs. Perhaps usable by bicycles. wheelchair=designated, foot=yes would be understood by default. Combine with access=* where appropriate.

Rendering

An elevator/lift icon would be used for the major map editors such as JOSM. The icon could also be rendered at the 18th zoom level in the slippy map. Large elevators mapped as an area could be rendered with the icon combined with a light gray area similar to highway=footway, area=yes. Incline elevators would have a single icon with a grey way similar to railway=* tags.